Madlanga Commission To Hear Witness X’s Testimony Behind Closed Doors

The Madlanga Commission will hear the testimony of Witness X in-camera on Thursday and Friday after an agreement was reached between the commission, evidence leaders, and an attorney representing two major media houses.

Earlier in the week, an attorney appearing for News24 and Daily Maverick confirmed that both media outlets opposed the use of closed sessions. Despite this, the commission ruled that Witness X’s evidence would be heard privately due to the sensitive nature of the information involved.

Evidence at the Madlanga Commission Linked to Active Investigations

Chief evidence leader, Advocate Matthew Chaskalson, explained that Witness X’s testimony related to ongoing police investigations.

“When the police are at an advanced stage of investigations, one can’t ventilate the content of those investigations publicly without running the risk of compromising those investigations, and that’s the unfortunate situation we find ourselves in at the moment,” said Chaskalson.

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Chaskalson also assured that the commission would take steps to improve communication going forward.

“There will not be any in-camera witnesses called without a 72-hour notice to the public, so that if anyone wants to object, they can do so,” he added.

The ruling sets a precedent for future hearings, ensuring that the public and media are informed ahead of any closed testimony sessions.

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